# Meta description You want the snippet under your blue link to earn the click. This page shows how to write meta descriptions that help small sites, how to check them, and why Google often changes them. Updated 2026-09-13 · Source: https://porteur.ai/glossary/meta-description ## What it is and where it appears A meta description is the HTML summary you set for a page, intended for search results snippets. It sits in as . Search engines may show it under your title on the results page, or they may rewrite it from on‑page text. > Do not confuse it with the title tag. The title shows as the blue link and has a tighter length limit. The description is the grey snippet under it. ## Why it matters for a small site You have fewer impressions, so each one must count. A good snippet lifts click through rate on queries where you already appear. It can also steer the right visitors: who it is for, what you offer, and the next step. ## How to check and measure it 1. **View what you set** Open your page, view source, and find . Or use a title and meta description checker to fetch and display it fast. 2. **See what Google shows** Search site:yourdomain.com "unique phrase" from your page to trigger that page’s result. Compare the live snippet with your tag. 3. **Track impact in Search Console** Open Performance, filter the page, and sort by queries. Watch clicks and CTR after you change the description. Use a 28 day window before and after. 4. **Check for missing or duplicate tags** Crawl your site with your crawler of choice. Fix pages with no description, or the same text on many pages. > There is no single character limit that always shows. Aim for one or two crisp sentences that fit on most screens without trailing ellipses. ## What to write, with examples - Match the search intent. Reflect the main query the page answers and the value in plain words. - Front load the benefit and the qualifier. Say who it is for and what makes it specific. - Include the call to action. Suggest the next step, like Compare plans or Start free. - Use the page’s real wording. Snippets built from on‑page text survive rewrites better. - Write unique copy per page. Do not paste site‑wide boilerplate. Bad on /pricing: Pricing for our solution. Learn more about our pricing and plans. Generic, repeats the title, no detail. Better on /pricing: Transparent monthly plans for startups and small teams, billed per seat. See features by tier and choose a plan, upgrade any time. Specific, intent matched, action led. For /guides/getting-started: Step by step setup for yourproduct.com. Connect data, invite a teammate, and publish your first page in under ten minutes. Uses page terms and a clear outcome. ## Why Google rewrites snippets Google picks the snippet that best matches the query. If your tag is missing, too vague, stuffed with keywords, off topic for the query, or mismatched to on‑page text, it will often be replaced by a sentence from the page. This is normal, and varies by query. - Write tags that mirror key on‑page sentences. This makes rewrites less jarring. - Cover common intents on the page with clear subheadings and first sentences. - Avoid clickbait. A promise the page does not keep invites a rewrite. ## Traps to avoid - Leaving it blank, then wondering why odd snippets show. - Using your brand tagline on every page. It wastes space and creates duplicates. - Chasing a fixed character count. Devices and languages vary. - Keyword lists or separators only. It reads as spam and gets replaced. - Copying competitors. Your features and audience differ. - Confusing other meta tags. The viewport or meta refresh are unrelated to snippets. > If you must redirect, use proper HTTP redirects. Meta refresh redirects are clunky and can harm user experience. ## Questions ### What is an example of a meta description? For a features page: Product analytics for SaaS teams. Track signups to activation, build funnels, and spot drop‑offs, no engineers needed. It names the audience, value, and next step. ### What is my meta description right now? Open your page source and find . Then search for your page and compare what Google shows. A checker tool can fetch and show both. ### What should I write in a meta description? Explain the page’s value in one or two sentences. Match the search intent, use the page’s own terms, and add a clear action like Compare plans or Read the guide. ### Is a meta description still important? Yes. It does not rank you higher on its own, but it can lift click through rate when you already appear. It also sets expectations so the right users click. ### How long should a meta description be? Write enough to say who it is for, what it offers, and the action. Do not chase an exact character count. Aim to avoid truncation on common devices. ### Should I use a meta description generator? You can use one for a first draft. Edit it so it matches the page and the audience. Keep unique wording per page to avoid duplicates and rewrites. ## Read next - [Meta description length, with examples that earn the click](https://porteur.ai/guides/meta-description-length): Keep meta descriptions around 155 characters on desktop and shorter on phones. Here is how to write snippets that earn clicks, with clear examples. - [Title and meta description checker](https://porteur.ai/tools/title-and-meta-description-checker): Paste a page or type a title and a description: pixel widths, character counts, desktop and phone previews, with the h1 and canonical beside them. - [Title tag](https://porteur.ai/glossary/title-tag): A title tag is the HTML title of a page. See how long it should be, why Google rewrites it, what to put in it, and how to fix weak titles. - [Title tag length: what fits, what Google rewrites, and how to write one](https://porteur.ai/guides/title-tag-length): About 60 characters is a safe line. Learn pixels versus characters, why Google rewrites titles, and how to write titles that earn clicks. - [Search intent: what the results page tells you to build](https://porteur.ai/guides/search-intent): Learn the four intents, read intent from the results page, and fix pages that will never rank by changing their kind, not just the words. - [The Search Console performance report, column by column](https://porteur.ai/guides/search-console-performance-report): Every column in the Google Search Console performance report explained with the traps that trip small sites, and how to act on each. - [Search snippet](https://porteur.ai/glossary/search-snippet): What a search snippet is, where its text comes from, how to measure it, how to improve rich and featured snippets, and when to limit it. Want a second opinion on your snippets, titles and rivals, fast? Paste a URL into the free check and get three findings in about thirty seconds. Free check: https://porteur.ai/